Nov 15, 2015; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) tries to flip the ball to running back James Starks (44) in the fourth quarter during the game against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field. Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Green Bay Packers (7-4) and Detroit Lions (4-7)
Thursday, 8:25 p.m. ET, at Ford Field, Detroit – TV: CBS
*TV announcers: Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, Tracy Wolfson
*Keys to the game: The Lions are finding their legs with three wins in a row after a 1-7 start and the Packers are threatening to bottom out with disheartening losses — including as double-digit favorites at home to Detroit — bumping Green Bay to second place in the NFC North.
Lions WR Calvin Johnson is starting to look like his young self and that’s troubling for a Packers secondary having communication issues. Under coordinator Jim Bob Cooter, the Lions are closer to a balanced offense. They ran the ball 29.4 percent of the time in the first seven games. But with a stronger commitment to the ground game, the Lions are still playing the preferred up-tempo style that suits QB Matt Stafford best. The offensive line is still a shaky house of cards reinforced with two-tight end packages to slow down edge rushers and let Stafford step into his throws.
QB Aaron Rodgers had the Packers in position to win the first meeting, but WR James Jones was blanked by CB Darius Slay and dropped a 4-yard TD in the end zone. Rodgers leaned heavily on WR Davante Adams — 22 targets for a lowly 79 yards — but was most effective working the ball underneath for chain-moving completions to his tight ends. With RB Eddie Lacy showing better power and explosiveness, the game plan is likely to feature more grinding than glitz to keep Rodgers from being battered by Lions stud DE Ziggy Ansah.
*Matchup to watch – Packers offensive coordinator Tom Clements vs. Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin: Blitz was the buzzword in the 18-16 victory at Lambeau Field on Nov. 15. Detroit brought extra defenders after the quarterback on 46.8 percent of Rodgers’ 66 dropbacks. If Rodgers is off the mark again as he was in that game, Clements has to find a working equation before the fourth quarter. That result produced a loss in Week 10.
*Player spotlight – Lions FS Glover Quin: A vocal leader who helped keep the defense from coming unstitched in September and October, Quin had a hand in keeping Rodgers guessing in the first meeting of the season and must be sound for Detroit to pull off the season sweep.
*Fast facts: The Lions last swept the season series with the Packers in 1991. … Green Bay is 11-5 in regular-season games played in December and January since 2011.
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
The Packers rushed for a season-high 177 yards in a Thanksgiving night loss to the Chicago Bears and could drift to the middle of the pack in the division by dropping a fourth game in five weeks. The Lions are showing improvement but with a thin margin for error fail to capitalize on Green Bay’s vulnerability.
*Our pick: Packers 24-20.
